25 August 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Monday 25 August 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 135

This psalm is a song of praise and thanksgiving to God. Calls upon the priestly tribes of Israel to praise the Lord.

There is a warning too, those who follow the idols of silver and gold will be like them: have eyes yet not see, have ears yet not hear have mouths yet not breath.

2 Chronicles 32: 9 – 23:

Sennacherib, King of Assyria sends people who talk the language of the Judeans to pour scorn on God and Hezekiah saying there is no way Jerusalem can hold out against his huge forces. Hezekiah and Isaiah pray. The Lord sends a warrior who kills all the soldiers, commanders and officers in the camp of Sennacherib. Sennacherib returns home in disgrace. As a result many bring gifts to God at the temple and to Hezekiah.

Acts 21: 1 – 14

Paul continues his journey towards Jerusalem. At Tyre disciples warn him not to go to Jerusalem. He travels to Caesarea and at Philip’s house a prophet Agabus from Judea arrives, takes Paul’s belt and ties his own hands and feet with it saying that the Jews will bind Paul thus and hand him to the Gentiles. Paul says he is willing and ready to be bound and even to die for Christ in Jerusalem. The people in Philip’s house became silent except to say, “The Lord’s will be done”.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Sue's Bridge over the Blackwood River
WA 2014 L Osburn

Holy and mighty Lord, your will, your ways and your purposes are beyond our understanding. We give you thanks and praise for the many times you have protected and defended us and for your apostles and faithful people of every age. Be with us this day. Remind us to pray when we feel besieged. Prepare us to be ready to stand up for Jesus so that we may truly be your hands on earth and so that your will may be done through Jesus Christ our Lord who redeemed us. Amen

Monday 25 August 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 136

This psalm proclaims God’s greatness and enduring love. There is a sense of the overwhelming, overflowing, generosity of God.

Tobit 2: 1 – 3: 6

Tobit is restored to his family and is about to sit and eat a great meal. He sends his son Tobias to bring a poor faithful person to the table. Tobias returns with news that a Jewish man has been murdered in the marketplace. Tobit goes, collects the body, keeps it safe until night-time and buries the man. All ridicule Tobit since he continues to bury the dead. He sleeps outside that night and wakes blind. His wife works to support the family. She weaves and one day is paid wages and a goat. Tobias does not believe the goat is a gift and demands she returns it. His wife demands he believe her and that he, the charitable one is not being charitable to her or his own family. Tobit weeps and prays and asks God to release him from his life of distress.

Romans 14: 13 – 23

We are not to pass judgement on each other and we are not to cause others to stumble. For example, with eating rites, we are neither to offend by eating something our brother or sister deems unclean nor to make them eat it. We are not to push food restrictions on others for it might divert the person from Christ and salvation. We are to pursue peace for mutual encouragement. All food is clean but it isn’t good to eat or drink things that make others stumble. If someone’s conscience says they should not eat something, then eating it is sin. We are to respect people dietary considerations.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Ovens River Evening
Victoria 2014 L Osburn

Gentle loving God, your greatness and love for us all endures forever. Build our gentleness and care for each other everyday so that we, showing that respect and honouring each other’s conscience may build your peace and joy in your Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord who so generously gave his all for us. Amen